Foodie Patoodie!: What's for Dinner? - Quick and Easy Dumplings

This weekend was out of the ordinary for me, meaning, I actually went out and enjoyed myself in the company of other adults my age. Until the SoCo and lime shots took effect, I think I managed to not talk about how miraculous my toddler's very mundane day-to-day activities are, and I consider that to be an accomplishment. This also means that I needed to make a dinner that can be healthy, comforting, and requires practically no brain cell function to make. We had some chicken broth and some homemade chicken gravy in the fridge, leftover turkey and couple of chicken breasts, frozen carrots and peas....add some spices and the dumplings are the only thing left to complete the soup. Here is the recipe for my dumplings. They seem to come out perfect every time and they're incredibly easy to make.

~Ingredients~

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 and 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. + 1/8 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces

1 cup whole milk

1 new potato...

~Directions~

1. While you mix your ingredients, give the new potato to your child and let them do odd, lurky things with it.

2. Combine all of your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.

3. Using a fork, not your hands (you do not want the butter to melt, it is important that it remains cold), mix in the butter, smashing it with the fork.

4. If it seems a little too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour so it is manageable.

5. Lightly flour a flat surface.

6. Pour the dough from the bowl onto the floured surface, rolling it in the flour and pressing flat. Repeat a few times until the dough is easily flattened. Flatten with your hands until it is about 1/8th of an inch thick.

7. Definitely pull up a chair and let your 16-month old dumpling touch and feel the flour and the dough.

8. They will feel included, helpful, and should they put any of the dough in their mouths, there are no ingredients that are harmful if swallowed raw.